San Diego Solo

I will be in town on business next week for 3 nights and would love some reqs for great eats. I will be staying in La Jolla and would like to stay away from the Gaslamp District if possible but am willing to drive anywhere within 30 minutes or so.

I was thinking about Nine Ten one night but haven't gotten any further than that. I really like any type of food but would prefer to stay away from italian (as we have great italian in DC) and Mexican (just not my favorite food).

Specifically places where I won't feel bad being a solo dinner even if it means eating at the bar.

Cafe Chloe in the East Village (not that far away from the Gaslamp area).

If you want sushi, I'd go to Izakaya Sakura for (closer) sushi than Kaito (which is a good 30-40 minute haul) but if you're into sushi, Kaito's quite worth it. Izakaya Sakura also has lots of non-sushi items. I've eaten there by myself many times and nobody's batted an eye.

Okan on Convoy is another great place for a solo diner. I've gone there alone and gotten as good service as when I'm there w/ friends. homestyle Japanese cooking--everything from sashimi, salads, tempura, udon, mixed rice bowls w/ a rotating daily menu that is on top of the bar in the middle of the place.

When you consider people are here visiting from another time zone (OP is from DC), when it is 6 a.m. here, they are already at 9 a.m. on their internal time clock...and 9 p.m. here is midnight to them... it makes sense we are an "early" city.

The locals are used to it and don't seem to demand much more. The business owners seem to be fine with it also...breakfasts and early lunches bring them the profits with quick turnaround. The places open late are playing to the college/younger crowd (i.e., lots of high profit alcohol)

Business owners are there to make money. They do what the market will bear and open for breakfasts and 11 a.m. lunches.

After I leave the theater, I do not want to endure the partying atmosphere. I find myself at Golden City and Shanghai City after 1030 p.m. at least once a month. But I also am awake by 4 a.m. most days.

Many people who work here have to deal with East Coast teleconferences.

That seems a bit harsh. What do you consider "late?" Yakitori Yakyudori serves food until 1am. Tajima is open even later. Basic has pizza until like 2am (later?). Linkery is open until midnight. Red Fox Room's kitchen is open until1am I think. Starlite until 2AM. Etc.

If I'm out late it usually means I'm intoxicated heavily so we limit ourselves to Tajima or Carne Asada chips from El Cotixan on Gennessee. What more does one need? Yes not a lot of variety for an area of 3 million but those 3 million are spread out over an area multiple times the size of SF. We are a big city that is small. There just isn't enough foodies out late enough. Tho anything is better than Jack in the box or something similar

Unfortunately "late" in San Diego means 9.30pm. It is hard to get good food in SD after that time. Especially during the week but also on weekends when the restaurants are open a little bit later but starting around 9-9.30pm they are always trying to rush you. And I think there would be a big enough market for good food (with good service) but all people I know who are interested gave up in SD and look somewhere else.

I know san diego is an "early city" and I am very familiar with the "type" of person who lives in san diego and who visits.

It still does surprise me how a restaurant with a full bar (or even wine like Cafe Chloe) will not stay open later and cater to drinkers. Or people than want to dance. Or party. Or listen to music. Or socailize. Or celebrate. Or live life. Or hang out with friends. You know, like in most great international cities.

(Or twitter. Or tweat. Or facebook. Or text.)

With a limited menu.

"all people I know who are interested gave up in SD and look somewhere else"